Premier Hospitality

Hotel Château France

Hotel Château
Written by Roma Publications

Hotel Château

Set on a private enclave of eighty acres surrounded by its original medieval wall, The Château du Grand-Lucé, one of France’s finest examples of neoclassical architecture, is now home to the new Hotel Château.

Following an exquisite restoration, refurbishment and expansion, the meticulous transformation honours the building’s architectural heritage as a mid-18th century masterpiece and one of the few structures to survive the French Revolution completely intact. Featuring 17 stunning suites in the 45,000 square-foot main Château, Hotel Château comfortably sleeps 36 to 42 adults. The resplendent property is also home to a grand ballroom, authentic French restaurant, bar, spa and fitness salon, an outdoor pool, classic French gardens, a kitchen garden, orchards and a private historic white oak forest.

Hotel Château features 17 guestrooms, including two apartments complete with private kitchens and living spaces, all designed in homage to the style, luxury and splendour first favoured by Pineau de Viennay and each complemented with an abundance of historic French brand, Bully 1803 bath and beauty products.

PREMIER HOSPITALITY INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE spoke to Paul Allen Wehsener and Shannon Wehsener from Paul Allen Design about their work on the project.

How did you get involved with this project?
“Our first historic hotel project was The Washington School House Hotel in Park City, Utah. This successful project and amazing visionary and design connection with owner Marcy Holthus continued our design collaboration on other projects. Knowing that there would be another hotel after Washington School House, Paul came across an article in Design Magazine about the listing of Château du Grand Lucè and ‘insisted’ that this castle be next in the Holthus hotel portfolio.

“The Château acquisition lead to our current role as Creative Directors for Pilot Hotels. Together with Holthus, we are charged with creating, designing, developing and overseeing concepts, branding, programming, space planning, purchasing, construction administration, landscape, styling, uniforms and amenities.”

How long were you working on the project?
“The project was two years from purchase to the hotel opening. This was a rapid-pace, considering we are located on the west coast of the United States and the Château du Grand Lucé is in the countryside of France.”

What are some of the hotel’s outstanding features?
Exisiting Space:
“The Salon Chinois is indeed the most exquisite room in the Château. It is wrapped in original 18th century murals, painted by Jean-Baptiste Pillement. This room is a private gallery (within the Baron’s Suite) with the furniture selected to compliment, but not distract from these extraordinary rare Chinoiserie panels.”

Reimagined space:
“Le Lucé – this former auxiliary room has now become the garden level restaurant for the Château. Bathed in the light of the Loire and the endless shades of green of the formal, historic gardens, it is a delightful space with a refreshing opulence.”

Hotel rooms:
“Each guestroom is unique in style, view and design but all decidedly French, as seen through modern American eyes, with a refreshing opulence.”

The Gardens:
“The gardens and property are unlike anything found in the United States, a guest can roam freely from formal gardens, through the meadow and into a forest of French oak, truly an enchanting experience, especially when you encounter the statues. Paul has played an important role in completing the restoration of the formal gardens and worked closely with the gardening team to elevate the standards to meticulous.”

What has feedback been like?
“The guests have been so amazed. The common theme from those who have seen the hotel is that there are no words to describe it. It is over-whelming in its magnificence. The incredible history and original design have been enhanced with a perfect spare lavishness and modern splendour leaving one literally awestruck and transported into another world.”

How important was this project to you?
“The Hotel Château project provided us with the opportunity to dwell in a part of French history, with an unparalleled guest experience. It is important to share the extraordinary architectural and landscape design from centuries past, with a contemporary, international audience. This project was viewed by many as an important French/American partnership. Our approach to conceive a project of this scale, in the French Countryside, required an American boldness, optimism and enthusiasm. As Americans, we have a reverence for French history and design as found in this Neo-Classical Château. It was such an amazing partnership, working with all levels of the French government and craftsmen, sharing our different cultures, ideas and approaches, to achieve this accomplished goal. We are blessed to work with Holthus as custodians to this French icon. The hotel guests, as the New Noble, will celebrate the exceptional French and European craftsmanship, traditions and history, displayed without distraction in the curated collection of furnishing, lighting and art.”

Hotel Château

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Roma Publications